Clam opener

ABSTRACT

An opener for clams, made up of a platen in the form of a platelike member. Two L-shaped members fixed to the platen in spaced relation to each other, and two blades are swingably connected to a bracket on the platen. The blades are pivoted between two L-shaped bracket members and extend in opposite directions. A handle on each blade overlies the edge of the platen and a stop plate is disposed at each end of the platen and supported on the platen adjacent the handles so that the blades engage the stop plate and prevent the blades from engaging the platen so that clams can be supported on the platen and opened beneath the blades.

United States Patent I [191 Rizzo [111 3,811,153 [451 May21, 1974 CLAM OPENER [76] Inventor: Russell S. Rizzo, NE. 37 Lincoln St., North East, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 296,283

Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold [5 7] ABSTRACT An opener for clams, made up of a platen in the form of a platelike member. Two L-shaped members fixed to the platen in spaced relation to each other, and two blades are swingably connected to a bracket on the platen. The blades are pivoted between two L-shaped bracket members and extend in opposite directions. A handle on each blade overlies the edge of the platen and a stop plate is disposed at each end of the platen and supported on the platen adjacent the handles so that the blades engage the stop plate and prevent the blades from engaging the platen so that clams can be supported on the .platen and 7 opened beneath the blades.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 21 1914 3.81 1; 1 53 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG! PATENTED MAY 21 1974 SHEET 2- 0F 2 FIG. 6

CLAM OPENER OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved opener for clams.

Another object of the invention is to provide an opener for clams that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object is to provide an improved opener for clams.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the clam opener according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the clam opener shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the clam opener shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the clam opener embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a platen 11, with two L-shaped bracket members 13 each having a horizontally disposed portion 19 and a vertically disposed portion 20. The vertically disposed portions 20 are supported in parallel planes and the blade 12 has one end between the vertically disposed portions 20 and the blade is pivoted to these portions by means of the pivot 14. The blades 12 have handengaging portions 18 forming a handle. A stop plate 16 is fixed to the platen by means of fasteners 17 and the stop plate 16 extends upwardly from the top of the platen and engages the blade to prevent the blade from engaging the platen. The blades extend from each other in a common plane.

The platen 11 has brackets 23 and 24 fixed to it by means of threaded bolts 25 and 26 respectively. The brackets are L-shaped and have a downwardly extending flange 27 which forms a barrier for the top of a container 28, such as a barrel, tub or box. The flanges 27 may be fixed to the rim of the container 28 by means of a C-clamp indicated at 29, for example. Thus the shells from the clams may be swept from the platen 11 directly into the container 28.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a platen 111 is shown with L-shaped members 113 having the blades 112 swingably attached to the L-shaped members by means of pivots 114 and 114. Each of the blades 112 have handle members 118 and the stop members 116 are fastened to the platen and prevent the blades from engaging the platen. In

use, one operator can stand at each end of the clam opener at a clambake. Each operator may set a clam on edge, hold it in position and split it open with the blade.

This can be done rapidly and with efficiency.

The brackets 123 and 124 are fixed to the bottom of the platen 111 by means of threaded bolts 125 and 126. The brackets have flanges 127 and 128 that are integrally fixed thereto and form a stop for the sides of the container 128 which may be a barrel, box or tub or the like receiving the shells from clams. The brackets 123 and 124 are held to the rim of the container by means of C-clamps 129. Thus the shells from clams that are opened with the device can be swept from the platen lll directly into the container 128.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An opener for clams comprising a platen made of a platelike member,

a pair of L-shaped members fixed to said platelike member,

said L-shaped members having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, said vertical portions being spaced from each other,

a first blade and a second blade being disposed between said vertical portions of said L-shaped members and pivotally connected thereto,

said first blade and said second blade being pivoted to said vertical portions of said L-shaped members at spaced points,

said blades and said vertical portions of said L- shaped members extending in a common plane and in opposite directions from each other,

two said horizontal portions of said L-shaped members being supported on said platen, one horizontal portion at an end of each said blade,

said blade having a handle on its distal end,

said handle being disposed at the opposite end.of said blades from the said L-shaped members,

a first stop plate and a second stop plate supported on an end of said platen at a position remote from said L-shaped members and having a top surface spaced from the top surface of said platen,

said second stop plate being supported on said platen on the opposite side of said L-shaped members from said first stop plate whereby said first blade engages said first stop plate and said second blade engages said second stop plate,

said blades being swingable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said platen whereby a clam can be supported on said platen under each said blade and said blades being swung into position to open said clam,

the bottom edges of said blades being disposed generally parallel to said platen and spaced therefrom when said blades engage said stop plates. 

1. An opener for clams comprising a platen made of a platelike member, a pair of L-shaped members fixed to said platelike member, said L-shaped members having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, said vertical portions being spaced from each other, a first blade and a second blade being disposed between said vertical portions of said L-shaped members and pivotally connected thereto, said first blade and said second blade being pivoted to said vertical portions of said L-shaped members at spaced points, said blades and said vertical portions of said L-shaped members extending in a common plane and in opposite directions from each other, two said horizontal portions of said L-shaped members being supported on said platen, one horizontal portion at an end of each said blade, said blade having a handle on its distal end, said handle being disposed at the opposite end of said blades from the said L-shaped members, a first stop plate and a second stop plate supported on an end of said platen at a position remote from said L-shaped members and having a top surface spaced from the top surface of said platen, said second stop plate being supported on said platen on the opposite side of said L-shaped members from said first stop plate whereby said first blade engages said first stop plate and said second blade engages said second stop plate, said blades being swingable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said platen whereby a clam can be supported on said platen under each said blade and said blades being swung into position to open said clam, the bottom edges of said blades being disposed generally parallel to said platen and spaced therefrom when said blades engage said stop plates. 